How do you save money?
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
United States
May 31, 2008 12:20am CST
When prices on everyday essentials continue to go up, how are you able to save money?
I found that shopping for the best deal to be the easiest way of saving more of my money. I work very close to BJ's WalMart, Costco and several small stores that allow me to shop for the best price during my lunch hour ( I go with a couple of workmates & we carpool)
Being a member of Costco and going to BJs with a member allow me to buy items that we use often in bulk and save $$.
I also have found several great deals on the internet. I have purchased sneakers online at Skechers and received a 10% discount and free shipping. Plus a free online site I signed up with gets me cash back when I shop online.
I did the same thing buying ink for my computer. I ran the ink down to the bottom and had already priced out the ink at both Bj's & Walmart and was thrilled to find it online at 123ink.com. The 4 colors came to just enough $$ to receive free shipping and I was also able to use my cash back online program and received more than $7 back on the transaction! I'm so thrilled with both of these transactions that I'm going to continue to search online companies looking to see who offers better deals than I can get anywhere else (and hopefully the company is part of my cash back program)
Does anyone else think that companies with an online presence are going to continue to offer discounts ( like 10-20% off their brick & mortar prices) free shipping, etc, as they try to attract shoppers to buy online? Many local stores are saying that store traffic has dropped each of the last few months and shows little sigh of improving, at least until the holidays.
Is online shopping going to be a big trend this year, or did I just luck out saving the money I did on these 2 deals?
4 people like this
9 responses
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
31 May 08
I also use cash first and the debit card only when I have to. I use my Paypal debit card for most of my online purchases and supplies I use for my online craft store.
The only times our credit card is used are for a large purchase that we want secured by our CC or for an emergency, like an auto repair. For any non-emergency purchaes we make, we already have the cash saved up to pay off the balance when the bill comes in and emergency charges are paid down at least 50% on the first bill.
Twice a month we have a set amount withdrawn from our checking account and once every two months we schedule another withdrawl to go into either our savings account or our Roth IRA.
Thanks for your responses!!
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I do think online shopping is valuable not only to the customer but the store itself. It was big business last year and should be even better this year. The cost of gas rising has kept many people from running around from store to store to save money. You did good on the deals you recently made online.
I save money because I am not a big clothes shopper. I am fortunate enough to keep my weight at a pretty consistent level and don't need to buy all the time. I also go to the closest mall if I do get the bug to shop.
My husband does the grocery shopping and he uses tons and tons of coupons all the time. He prefers to do the shopping. I'm not complaining...lol
2 people like this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Lol! Does he insist on doing all the bagging at check-out? Mine does, but he actually does a better job than the baggers at my store.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
3 Jun 08
Hi carol! When my hubby saw how much I saved buying the printer ink, he became very interested...lol.
Even though I do much of the shopping, he does grab the coupons from the paper and cuts out the coupons we use and he has no problem using them either (and he also helps out by checking out prices when he's in the store, so we know where we'll get the best price) I like to leave hubby home with the boys when I shop though... he likes to get in and out of the stores, while I like to wander around a bit and check things out (he tells me I can spend 10 minutes looking at sugar in the baking aisle..LOL- I do it on purpose to get him to stay home 
)
Thanks for your response....take care!
)
Thanks for your response....take care!1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I also use coupons and share what I know I won't use with my family. And I love buying on clearance. I'll even buy a size or two up for my sons, knowing they'll grow into them.
I feel guilty if I don't save money when I shop. We both work near supermarkets and along with the supermarkets in town, we gather the sale pages, compare prices and buy what we need on our way home from work ( my s/o takes our mail with him and stops at the PO to drop it off if they send him on the road...getting paid for mileage, of course)
I get cash back when I shop online and have found several bargains (compared to the store prices) on itmes I need and use around the house. I've often received free shipping and the cash back I receive makes it worth it even more. If I figure out how much gas and time I save on these occasional purchases, I find it really does add up and with the cash back money, I started my holiday shopping (buying online, of course and getting more cash back...
)
Thank you for participating in the thread! I really enjoy hearing how people have made adjustments in these tough times!
)
Thank you for participating in the thread! I really enjoy hearing how people have made adjustments in these tough times!
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
1 Jun 08
They only way to save money is not to spend too much.
I used to buy at Costco till I find out to spend more money than buying in local store.
I rather buy in smaller quantity so nothing gets spoil.
People are tired with the same diet over and over, so eventually food is waste.
I also like to buy online, because it saves my time and gasoline, plus I have all deliver at my door.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Jun 08
There are some good buys at Costco, but you're right, in many cases you can end up paying as much and more for some of there bulk itmes (plus they are limited to some of the brands they carry)
I too love shopping online and I love finding an online deal that not only saves me time and gas, but saves me money over what the stores charge. And when I can get cash abck on top of thesavings, I'm really very happy!!
Even my hubby was impressed that I not only saved money when I bought printer ink online, I also received free shipping and a healthy cash back incentive... and the ink was delivered in 3 days after placing the order.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Jun 08
ooops...thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@missbdoll (1165)
• Australia
20 Jul 08
With food shopping, lately I got to the point were I try to get most things on special.As I'm out most days I get some stuff from our local supermarket and if I donn't need it imediatly I'll wait till I'm at another supermarket.I havent paid full price for juice, yogut, margarine,pasta sauce, shampo and heaps of other things for months.Just by using a couple of different supermarkets.
The othe day steak that had been $27 a kilo was down to $7 a kilo.I always shop late in the afternoon, as taht's when things like bread and meat get reduced.
I always check our local opp shops as one of them gets heaps of brand new clothes, still with tags,A couple of days ago I got a brand new to wiith tag still for $2.This is not unusual,at the moment they have heaps of new shoes and knit wear.
As I'm really into shoes and perfume, I've even worked that out.There is so much perfume dicounting, I get a lot of my favorites for anything up to 80% off.And the best place I've discover sells imported designer shoes, a lot are "samples" and work out around 25% of the original price.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Very well done! These are the stories I enjoy reading. It's very hard out there for many people all over the world and I love hearing from folks who adjust their lifestyles and continue to "go with the flow".
I try to do many of the same things as you stated. I love getting a nice cut of steak or beef on sale at the end of the day (for a fraction of the price) and cooking it the following evening. We had steak last week and my s/o asked me if we hit the lottery...lol. When he saw the price and we figured out the price of the dinner that evening, we realized the entire dinner, including dessert, cost less than the original price of the steak.
I also buy brand new clothes for my sons cheaply and last spring I found a WalMart that was selling all their children's clothes for $1-$2. It was all out-of-season clothing and I was able to pick up jeans, khaki pants, and long-sleeve shirts for both of my sons ( 5 outfits for each, for less than $30 and I would have bought more, but we purposely left our credit and debit cards at home)
I also look on eBay, for new clothes or items that are being sold cheaply and with the tags. I get cash back when I win eBay auctions, so it's like saving 2x when I win an auction.
Thanks for sharing your story!!
@kassdaw (591)
• United States
31 May 08
I enjoy shopping for sales, you always get more for your money. My husband and I stopped going out to eat except for one day a month. When we go grocery shopping we buy things that we need to make not just food we can throw in the microwave. It does save in the long run.
I have done something a little odd to save money. I quit my job and sold my car. For me to work, I was paying car insurance, car repair, a babysitter, and gas. My paycheck when for all of that, it wasn't worth the work. So I quit, got an at home job. I am making more money, getting to spend more time with my son, and putting my paycheck in the bank. It actually saved us $1000.00 a month for me to quit my job. Well worth it.
2 people like this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
31 May 08
$1,000 a month...now that's saving money! And there's no price you can put on the extra time you get to spend with your son!
Good for you. I think your situation is what every working mother would love to have...I know I would!
Thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@lovespecialangel (3632)
• United States
6 Jun 08
I really think online shopping is going to be a big trend this year with the gas prices going up the way they are. I am not big on buying online, but may be changing my mind real soon. If shopping online becomes a huge thing, there might not be as many deals out there.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
6 Jun 08
You could be correct! I really enjoy getting free shipping and I can see the high gas prices forcing companies to charge for shipping.
At least I still get some cash back everytime I shop!
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
16 Jun 08
One of the things that I do, was inspired by Bank Of America's Keep The Change, program. When I spend ccash, I put all of my change into a jar and roll it when it fills up. When I use my ATM card at my Canadian bank, I found everyhing up.
I look at the totals in my bank account, round up, deduct the amount spend from the rounded total, and put the remaining amount into my savings account.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I round up also. I don't often put the money into my savings right away (which tends to often mean some of the money gets spent)but it one of the ways I save money and it's really a great way to save.
Thanks for sharing that idea with us and thanks for your response!!
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
2 Jun 08
Although the prices on things are shooting up I am actually finding it all a bit of a challenge, something to get my teeth into.
When things were easy and cheap to come by I found I relaxed and did not bother too much about the cost or saving or any of it. Now, I have too and I am no longer taking things for granted. I have set budgets for things and I am determined not to have to put them up, determined to still save money in this changing world.
I have changed how I do my shopping for food, for clothes and for every little thing that I bought that I took for granted. Now I do my shopping on a daily basis only buying what I need when I need it and preparing meals day by day instead of week by week, I am saving a lot by doing this. I am shopping for clothes in charity shops instead of buying brand new, and it is amazing the designer brands you can get from these places more or less brand new if you are lucky. I also look for household things and books there too.
I have totally cut back on everything, I write down my spending for a week and look at it after the weeks end and see where I can make more cuts and you are right online shopping is excellent and again I go online to see what I can get cheaper than anywhere else. Like I say for me it is a challenge and I am finding ways now to save more money than I ever would if all these price increases had not taken place.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I really believe that companies with a strong online presence, will do very well this year. Last year, I was getting free shipping quite often and even when the item I was looking for was out-of-stock, the company emailed saying that it was back in stock (and in these cases always offered to ship for free!)
The cash back program I use is wonderful and I've already begun using the cash back $$ to buy Christmas presents for my sons.
I hope the online bargains continue because I really love saving a little money on the cost of the item, saving gas & time from driving to the store and then getting cash back a week or so later.
Between coupons at the grocery store and cash back $$ for shopping online, I'm really able to stretch the money in my budget a little further and continue saving despite the rising prices!
Great response... thanks for sharing your ideas!
1 person likes this
